Our 2014 – 2015 Homeschool Curriculum Choices

I love helping new homeschoolers, I love when they ask for advice or want to hear our story. I admit, however, that I backstep a little every time someone asks what curriculum we use.

That’s a hard question to answer for two reasons. One, just because something works for us doesn’t mean it will work for others. Two, we don’t use just one curriculum; we’re hodgepodge homeschoolers.

Last year I wrote a post about what we were using for the 2013-2014 school year and now that I think we have everything for 2014-2015 figured out I’m going to post our plans.

Some things to know about us:

–We’re relaxed homeschoolers. We don’t believe in introducing formal education before 7, even 8 with certain kids. We don’t bother with scope & sequences. Our teens work with state graduation and college admission goals in mind but our schooling is dictated by what the kids are interested in.

–Our goal is to produce well-rounded adults who know how to express themselves, how to form their own thoughts & opinions, and how to find the information the need to learn whatever they want or need to learn.

–All grades are ~ish, meaning they work at their level. I’ve provided what grades they would be in if they were in public school. As we homeschool year-round you may see two different programs listed for any given subject. You’ll also notice that almost everything is taught to multiple kids at the same time.

–We will add in more things and we will change some things. Sometimes great opportunities come by that we weren’t expecting or something doesn’t work out as we thought it would. Thankfully homeschooling gives us the flexibility to change direction as needed.

And now, the list!
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Miss Grown-Up (18, finishing 12th grade)

Miss Grown-Up only has 1.5 math credits to complete. She will be using Teaching Textbooks Geometry and Algebra 2 and we’re anticipating a graduation date of December, 2014.

Additionally she works a job that is almost full-time and she volunteers with a local wish-granting organization.

Language arts: I planned on doing a year of non-fiction reading & writing but M.U. asked if we could do Shakespeare instead. We don’t have a plan yet, she just wants to read the plays and I’ll provide the materials she needs.

When that is finished (actually, she’s already finished it! She’s ahead of the game I guess) I’ll have her pick a play to start on (she’s picked Much Ado About Nothing) and she’ll read it using Spark Notes as needed. I’ll be adding in a lot of streaming media (David Tennant as Hamlet, yes please!) and writing assignments as she goes.

Meg Grooms is a long-time homeschooling mother of 6 children, ranging in age from preschool to married with kids of their own. Always a vagabond at heart, Meg and her family have embraced a slow travel lifestyle and currently call Southern California home. Your guess is as good as hers as to where they’ll end up next.

One thought on “Our 2014 – 2015 Homeschool Curriculum Choices”

I like your philosophy on formal education and not necessarily having to introduce it early on. I’m posting our 10th and 3rd grade curriculum choices tomorrow morning, and I feel like I have to explain myself where Ian is concerned because I’ve been so relaxed with him (maybe it’s my fault, because I wasn’t so relaxed with the girls). Anyway, I also appreciate that you are teaching to develop a well-rounded child. Your choices sound great!